Man & the computer [antikvár]

PREFACEWhat has always made machines truly important to man is not their individual versatility and productivityit is the fact that they serve as agents of social change. They change our world. They change us. This is the theme of the present book.It is an inescapable fact of our times that science and technology are changing our worldchanging it beyond anything we may imagine or desire. Too often, our view of this change is shortsighted. It occurs after the fact, and it assigns too small a role to the future.This is not a book of prophecy; yet, as I review its plan, I find that it inevitably contains elements that could be interpreted as dire, for its essence is the impact of science and technology on Man. Thus, while my thoughts are questioning rather than apocalyptic, and I am trying to put them into language that is direct rather than portentous, I am still haunted by the words of Richard Wilbur, who wrote not long ago a poem entitled "Advice to a Prophet":vii